It seems that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie just moved into their 500 hectare (1,200 acres) estate, Château Miraval, in the tiny medieval village of Correns, in the Var region of eastern France, not far from the Mediterranean.

Now comes word of a break-up! Wine lovers all over are apprehensive about the fate of the well-received wines from the estate, especially Château Miraval rosé.   (They also produce smaller amounts of white and red wines.)

Brad and Angelina’s interest in the south of France didn’t begin in Correns. Many years previously they dreamt of buying an estate in the exquisite, small village of Eygalières in Provence, very close to St-Rémy-de-Provence.  Unfortunately, the mairie (city hall) didn’t approve their plans to develop some roads on the estate, so their bid was nixed.   Neighbors did not take kindly to the thought of paparazzi and helicopters hovering permanently in the area. Though Eygalières does have many French tv and movie personalities (and now Hugh Grant) with second homes in the town, no one is of the stature of Brangelina. French celebrities participate in the life of the local village, and they are not mobbed by locals and tourists, who are used to seeing them in cafés, restaurants and the popular Friday market.

The couple leased the 35 room estate at Château Miraval as of 2008, and then purchased it in 2012 for about €35M, putting an additional €15M in improvements.  They married there in 2014. They began producing wine from the 90 acre organic vineyards with the 2012 vintage. Naysayers clearly doubted that this celebrity wine would be worth their attention but a partnership with the super star Perrin Family, who makes one of the world’s greatest wines, Château de Beaucastel, in the southern Rhône Valley, quickly proved the doubters wrong. The Côtes de Provence Rosé Miraval was listed at #84 on the Wine Spectator’s Best 100 Wines in the world in 2013, and since it was the only rosé listed that year, it was essentially the best rosé in the world, which could help justify the €16-18 price in France. The 2015 Miraval Rosé was rated 90 points by the Wine Spectator; Decanter has also praised the wine and rated the 2013 vintage 91 points.

Rumors are swirling about a sale of the estate but cannot be confirmed.  Miraval itself was purchased in the names of the 6 children, and according to partner Marc Perrin the estate is not for sale. We know that Brad Pitt is deeply interested in grape growing and winemaking, and takes part in planting and blending decisions so there is a likelihood that he may want to continue his winemaking venture.  The bottle for the 2016 vintage carries the names of Jolie-Pitt & Perrin, seemingly dispelling rumors of a sale, though labels can be redone.

Miraval was originally the home of jazz pianist and composer Jacques Loussier. Other famous artists, including Pink Floyd, Sting, and Sade have recorded there.

Article submitted by: Sharon deRham

Cet article What is happening with Château Miraval rosé? est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

The recent warm, sunny spring days have sent me off to my local wine shop/tasting bar, l’Arbre à Vins in Vaison-la-Romaine to find some delicious rosés to drink this spring and summer.

As usual, Mathieu Schillinger, the owner, was happy to give me tastes of the 3 rosés he has open for tasting. I tried the Domaine du Mourchon, the Domaine de la Janasse, and the Domaine de la Mordorée, all of which I loved, and subsequently purchased.

The popularity of rosé is exploding, in France and elsewhere. Rosé is the only French wine whose sales are increasing in the US, up to 40% growth per year. Rosé is produced in many countries and in many regions of France but rosé from the Provence region is usually considered the best and most consistent. It is becoming more and more sophisticated to drink rosé, the quality is improving, there are more and more luxury rosés, and even though the price is going up, these are the most value driven wines in France.

The colors range from very pale, to shell pink, to onion skin, to pale orange, to darker pinks, to a very deep near-purple. There is a nuancier (color chart) to show the many different shades of Provencal rosé; there are 139 shades! But the “Rosé Research Center” experts have grouped these colors into 9 main ones. Sommeliers often use strawberry, light cherry, mango, melon, salmon, ruby pink, peach, pink grapefruit, or wood to describe the colors.

Provence rosé nuancier

The very pale rosé is trendy in France. Many young women think that the lighter color indicates less alcohol, but this is not the case.  Others think that “pale” is sophisticated.  The lighter color is due to the style of winemaking, and although it is counterintuitive, the lighter color doesn’t mean less flavor either.  Most often, but not always, the very pale rosés come from Provence, the region around the Mediterranean.  The big exception is Bandol, whose mourvèdre based rosés are both longer-lasting and intensely flavored. As we move north into the Rhône Valley, Côtes du Rhône rosés become fuller bodied and darker in color. The appellation of Tavel makes only rosé wines, usually full-bodied and flavorful and considered the “best” by many connaisseurs.

Provençal rosés are made in two main ways. In the saignée (bleeding off) method a winemaker wants to concentrate her red wine, so after a short fermentation, some of the juice is “bled” off from the tank, giving a rosé, while the red wine remaining in the tank is more concentrated.  In the “direct pressure” method, red wine grapes are harvested early, and fermented. Skins are only allowed a short time in contact with the juice and are removed when the juice is the desired color.

A good rosé is dry, juicy, bright and refreshing to the palate; it has some nice acidity and good flavors of summer fruits and flowers.  The best rosés will have some minerality and you might find some herbal flavors as well.

The grapes most often used in Provence for rosés are Cinsault, which gives the strawberry aroma; Grenache gives light cherry and other red fruit flavors and structure to the wine; Syrah for deep color, tannin and spicy dark red fruits; mourvèdre gives structure and body with flavors of dark fruits, herbs and minerals. Some rosés have a taste of bubble gum, which is not appreciated by many French although foreigners seem to like it, according to Mathieu.

Dry rosés come in different styles from a light, lively and fruity style that is best poolside or as an apéritif. “Table rosés” are more full-bodied, may have some oak aging, and are wonderful with food; some can even take the place of a red wine.

There is a third category of rosé in the south of France, which is unfortunately almost unknown outside the region. These are sweet rosés, mainly from the “Cru” rated appellation of Rasteau, but also from Beaumes-de-Venise. Rasteau is better known for is brooding red wines and red VDN (vin doux naturel), but Rasteau produces dry and sweet rosés as well.  I recently had a Domaine Combe Julière VDN Rasteau Rosé well paired with a Thai Tom Yam soup.  At €11 per bottle, this is a steal.  The wine had aromas of crushed strawberries, and other red fruits. In addition to drinking with spicy Asian dishes, the sweet rosé is a wonderful apéritif, a natural with foie gras, and I would love to try it with a strawberry shortcake or raspberry Charlotte.

These rosés are perfect partners to our Provençal cuisine, redolent of garlic, olive oil, and herbs. The lighter rosés are great with marinated red peppers, fresh goat cheese, salads, plates of charcuterie, petite friture (tiny fried smelts); the more full-bodied rosés are preferable with tartare of salmon, grilled sea bass or tuna, stuffed vegetables (“petits farcis”) or a roasted chicken.

On the high end there are some fairly new but exciting rosés.  Chêne Bleu from owner Nicole Sierra Rolet is getting a lot of attention for its rosé produced high up in the Ventoux, behind Gigondas, from organic and biodynamic grapes. The wine is perfumed, complex, with a fuller body and wonderful berry nose and good acidity. I buy this one every year!  €16.

It should not be surprising that Miraval, the “Brangelina” produced wine from Provence, is quite delicious. Everything the couple does has quality written all over it. They produce this wine in partnership with the well-known Perrin family at Château de Beaucastel. Sacha Lichine –of the famous Bordeaux Lachine family—produces the Château d’Esclans wines Rock Angel and Whispering Angel, which are sometimes considered the “best” rosés, but at a steep price of  €15 and €40. Their limited production Garrus goes for about €140.  At about €18, the Miraval seems inexpensive. Apparently the Esclans wines are quite popular with yacht owners on the Mediterranean and clubgoers in St Tropez.

 Recommended Provençal rosé wines. Best to buy a 2015 vintage. All these wines are exported. Price given is the local price in Provence.

The prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer Domaine de la Janasse makes an excellent Côtes-du-Rhône rosé for about €6 per bottle.

The “Loubié” rosé, produced by Domaine de Mourchon in Séguret has a big following in the US; early each spring they start shipments to California customers. About €8.5.

Domaine de la Mordorée Tavel, a “Cru” rosé-only appellation producing full bodied rosés.  About €14.

Chêne Bleu in the Ventoux region, produces an excellent, complex rosé priced at about 16€ per bottle.

Miraval Rosé, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, with the Perrin Family. About €18 per bottle.

Rasteau Vin Doux Natural Rosé, Ortas, Rasteau.  €9 per bottle

L’Arbre à Vins Wine Shop and Tasting Bar, Place Montfort (main square in town) / Trip Advisor

Article and photos: Sharon deRham

Cet article Rosé Wines – 50 Shades of Summer in Provence est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

The northern Provençal village of Cairanne  will have a lot to celebrate at their 7^th annual “Marché aux Vins”  the week-end of April 30 and May 1, 2016. The village winemakers, producers of complex rich, fruit-filled red wines (white and rosé wines make up only about 5% of the production) have just been told that the wines of Cairanne will get the coveted “CRU” denomination as of the 2016 harvest; this is the highest ranking Rhône wines can attain. The winemakers have worked for 8 years to attain this level.  It was heartbreaking for some local winemakers when the change was announced; CRU wines include only the best vineyards, and some vineyards were excluded from the new appellation, and became simple “Côtes du Rhône” wines, still delicious, but in a different category.

Cairanne wines

This new “CRU” certainly means that the celebrations will be more festive this year, as Cairanne wines bask in the limelight that was formerly only the prerogative of other local wines, e.g. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Rasteau. The week-end will include tastings done by winemakers; tasting workshops—often led by English speaking Cairanne winemaker Bruno Boisson; cooking classes; food stands; walks in the vineyard and carriage rides.

Meet the winemakers, taste the wines, attend a specialized workshop. You don’t have to be a wine connoisseur to enjoy yourself; just come and savor the wines with everyone else.

Along with the featured Cairanne wines, you can taste the appellations of Rasteau, Sablet, Gigondas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Tavel and more and for the outrageously low fee of €5. Over 40 wineries are participating. Superstar Cairanne wineries include Domaine Roche, Domaine Marcel Richaud,  Domaine Delubac, Domaine Alary, Regis and Bruno Boisson, and many others.

Saturday, April 30: 10 am to 7 pm

Sunday, May 1: 10 am to  6 pm

€5 entry fee includes a glass

Location: Salles Communales; parking nearby

Contact: Bruno Boisson  +33 (0)6 10 29 19 33 (speaks English) [email protected]  Website

Location: in the village, just off the roundabout of the D69 as you enter the village.

Recommended Cairanne bistros

Tourne au Verre, in the village, with a lovely terrace. Three courses for €18 at lunch, €26 dinner.  30 wines by the glass.

Côteaux et Fourchettes, Restaurant and wine shop. €19, €32 and €44 menus. Outside the village at the intersection of the D8 and D975 roads. Excellent food and wine, beautiful setting and talented young chef.  2015 Gault et Millau “Young Chef” Award.

Written by: Sharon deRham

Cet article Cairanne “CRU” Rhône Wines to be celebrated at the Marché aux Vins 2016 est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

Château de Beaucastel is not only one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s greatest wine estates, is also one of the world’s great estates. It belongs to the Famille Perrin portfolio of wines and is located on the northern end of the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

According to French wine rules, the appellation’s wineries are permitted to use 13 different varieties (cépages) of grapes in their blends but unlike most other local wineries, Beaucastel uses all 13 varieties, though the major grapes are still Grenache, Syrah, and mourvedre, counoise and   cinsault with small percentages of the other varieties. Their whites as well as their red wines are world famous. The estate is organic, and they are converting to bio-dynamic production.

In California the Château de Beaucastel formed a partnership with their importer, Vineyard Brands, to create Tablas Creek wines, a  pioneer in the production of Rhône varietals (i.e. Grenache, syrah, mourvedre) in central California.

In Provence the Famille Perrin has entered into a partnership with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to produce the Miraval Wines in the Var region.

Visiting a top-notch wine estate and tasting the wines is always a highlight of a wine lover’s trip to Provence or the Rhône Valley. For a winery visit, write to Kirsty at [email protected].

However you will get a more extensive tasting of not only Château de  Beaucastel but also a wide gamut of Perrin Family wines if you visit one of the brand new tastings rooms, where a knowledgeable, English speaking sommelier (François in Châteauneuf; Richard in Aix) will explain the wines.  Look for “Famille Perrin”. You will have a great time!

In Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Famille Perrin, Place du Portail, (next to the Tourist Office in the center of the village. ) +33 (0)4 90 02 15 54 

10 to 6 :30, Monday through Saturday.

In Aix-en-Provence: Famille Perrin, 1 Place Forbin (at the opposite end of the Cours Mirabeau from the very large ‘Fontaine de la Rotonde.’) 10:30 til 7:00 Tuesday-Saturday. +33 (0)4 42 27 45 20

Château de Beacastel

Chemin de Beaucastel, Courthezon, Provence

+33 (0)4 90 70 41 00

Website

Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, Ala. 205 980-8802

Sharon Derham

Cet article Featured Wine est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

Avignon Gourmet Tours, a taste of Provence

Emotional Escapes prides itself on its local knowledge and experience, part of building this knowledge is working closely with local service providers who offers a unique experience to the visitors.

Emotional Escapes Provence has recently discovered one such local expert offering a unique tour to one of the region’s main cities that is Avignon. They have invited Aurélie who launched Avignon Gourmet Tours last year to present her project and services in this column.

How the concept of gourmet tours in Provence came to be.

An exclusive gourmet tour of Avignon.

Emotional Escapes Provence recommends Avignon Gourmet Tours  to visitors to Provence looking to sample the famed local produce of this rich region.

If you would like to keep informed of activities and quality artisans and restaurants in Provence, we also recommend visiting partner blogs Belle Provence Travels and The Provence Post.

Cet article Avignon Gourmet Tours, a taste of Provence. est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

Vaucluse Wines honoured by the Wine Spectator for 2012

The Wine Spectator a lifestyle magazine focussed on wine founded in 1976 and boasting over 240 000 wines ratings to date, has recently published their annual TOP 100 listing for 2012.

Source: The Wine Spectator

We are happy to learn that this list not only includes 4 wines from Vaucluse in Provence, one of Just Provence main destinations,  but that 2 Vaucluse wines make it into the top 5 of this year’s listing. Unsurprisingly these wines originate from Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas, two well-known destinations for wine connoisseurs.

If you would like to learn more about wines in Provence or wine tasting  in general you can visit the Wine Spectator website which includes video presentations of the top 10 wines of 2012, we also recommend reading  this article on wine classifications in France.

Wine tours in Provence are one of the highlights of a stay in Just Provence exclusive holiday rentals and there are many locations within just minutes from these award-winning wine producers to choose from. Do not hesitate to ask us for advice on the best locations and rental properties for your wine experiencing or you can also read our post on choosing the perfect destination for your stay in Provence.

If you have already experienced wine tours in Vaucluse or the Côtes du Rhône region and would like to share your experience, we would like to hear from you. Please leave a comment or contact me at [email protected]

Dylan

Cet article Vaucluse Wines honoured by the Wine Spectator for 2012 est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.